I Was Blind, but Now I See: The Man Born Blind
John 9:1-41 New Testament PrincipleHonesty
Jesus saw a man who had been blind since birth. The disciples asked whose sin caused it, and Jesus said, "Neither … this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him." Jesus made mud, put it on the man's eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. He came back seeing! The Pharisees questioned him again and again and pressured him to say Jesus was a sinner. But the man kept telling the truth, "One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!" They threw him out, but Jesus found him, and the man believed and worshiped Him. Honesty means telling the truth about what Jesus has done.
Honesty means telling the truth, even when it's hard. We don't have to know all the answers to be honest about what Jesus has done for us.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!”
John 9:25 BSB
The Big Story · Redemption
Sin brought darkness and brokenness into the world. Jesus came as the Light of the world to open blind eyes and blind hearts, a preview of the day when He makes all things new.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: What can you tell?
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): The lost steps
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: One thing I know
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
I tell the truth about Jesus!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Close and open, Color the happy man
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jesus saw a man who had been blind since he was born. Jesus said this happened so people could see God's work. Jesus put mud on the man's eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man came back seeing! The leaders didn't like it. They asked him again and again what happened. They wanted him to say Jesus was bad. But the man kept telling the truth. "I was blind, but now I see!" Later he met Jesus again and believed in Him. We can be honest about what Jesus has done.
Start here
Ask, "Is it ever hard to tell the truth?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today a man told the truth, even when important people were angry with him."
Bible story 6 min
One day Jesus saw a man who was born blind. He had never seen anything. He sat by the road and begged.
Jesus' friends asked, "Why is he blind? Did he sin? Did his parents sin?" Jesus said, "No. He is blind so that God's work can be shown in him."
Then Jesus spit on the ground and made mud. He put the mud on the man's eyes. "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam," Jesus said.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: A blindfold or scarf
- Choose Jesus, the man, a neighbor, two Pharisees, a mother and a father.
- Act out the skit. The man wears the blindfold until he washes.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth, sending him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. When the Pharisees questioned him, his frightened parents dodged, but the man kept telling the truth. Pressured to call Jesus a sinner, he said, "One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!" He was thrown out of the synagogue, but Jesus found him, and he believed and worshiped. Honesty means telling the truth about what Jesus has done, even when it costs us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The man's answers, One thing I know
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Jesus, the Light of the world, gave sight to a man born blind, something no one had ever heard of. The healing set off an investigation. Neighbors doubted, Pharisees divided, and the man's parents dodged out of fear. Pressured to call Jesus a sinner, the man refused to bend the truth, "One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!" Honesty cost him his place in the synagogue, but it led him to Jesus, whom he worshiped as Lord. The leaders who claimed to see stayed blind. Honest witness simply tells what Jesus has done.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Eyes opened, My testimony
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Honesty
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Seeing God's WorldIs Truth Real?John 18:28-38; John 14:1-6; John 8:31-32When Jesus stood before Pilate, He said He came to tell the truth. Pilate asked, "What is truth?" but walked away without waiting for the answer, even though the Truth was standing right in front of him. Truth is real, Jesus is the Truth, and God's people love and tell the truth.New TestamentHonesty
In the BeginningJacob and EsauGenesis 27:1-45; Genesis 28:10-22; Genesis 33:1-11Jacob lied and cheated, but God kept His promise to him anyway, because God's grace is bigger than our sin.Old TestamentHonesty